Caladium plant named ‘Berries N&#39; Burgundy’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘Berries N&#39; Burgundy’, characterized by its short height; somewhat mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; fancy-type leaves that are dark green in color overlain with a variable reddish bronze cast; and pink-colored petioles with brown-colored stripes.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BERRIES N' BURGUNDY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a fancy leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Berries N' Burgundy’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2009 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Dynasty’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,240, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium×hortulanum ‘Blaze’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. in September, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by ‘chipping’ the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since April, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Berries N' Burgundy’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Berries N' Burgundy’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Short in height, and somewhat mounded plant habit; leaf         petioles upright to outwardly arching with development.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Fancy-type leaves that are dark green in color overlain with         a variable reddish bronze cast; areas surrounding the midvein         and lateral veins are variably suffused with grey green-colored         flecks with red orange to coral pink-colored veins.     -   4. Petioles that are pink in color with brown-colored stripes.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘White Dynasty’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are shorter than plants of ‘White         Dynasty’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium have fancy type leaves whereas         plants of ‘White Dynasty’ have strap (or lance) type leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘White Dynasty’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of ‘White Dynasty’ are white and greyed green in         color with few random red purple-colored spots, dark         green-colored margins and greyed green- colored venation.     -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘White Dynasty’ differ in leaf         petiole color as leaf petioles of ‘White Dynasty’ are green in         color, tinged and streaked with brown.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Blaze’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are more shorter than plants of         ‘Blaze’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Blaze’ differ in leaf color         as leaves of ‘Blaze’ are dark green in color with burgundy         red-colored venation and centers.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium×hortulanum ‘John Peed’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘John Peed’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are shorter than plants of ‘John         Peed’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘John Peed’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of ‘John Peed’ have dark red-colored centers and         red-colored venation with olive green-colored margins.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Frieda Hemple’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Frieda Hemple’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are shorter than plants of ‘Frieda         Hemple’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Frieda Hemple’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of plants of ‘Frieda Hemple’ are medium green in         color with bright red-colored centers and venation.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Frieda Hemple’ differ in leaf         petiole color as leaf petioles of ‘Frieda Hemple’ are tan pink         in color with dense blackish brown stippling and streaks,         appearing to be close to black in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Berries N' Burgundy’ in a container and grown in a shadehouse (tuber de-eyed).

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of the male parent, ‘Blaze’ (left), ‘Berries N' Burgundy’ (center) and the female parent, ‘White Dynasty’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of ‘John Peed’ (left), ‘Berries N' Burgundy’ (center) and ‘Frieda Hemple’ (right).

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a comparison view of typical plants of ‘Berries N' Burgundy’ grown in containers; the plant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Berries N' Burgundy’ grown in an open field.

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers with roots of ‘Berries N' Burgundy’.

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Berries N' Burgundy’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% light reduction) in Avon Park, Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions in an outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial shadehouse and outdoor nursery production. During the production of the shadehouse-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and light levels ranged from about 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles. Plants grown in the shadehouse were ten weeks old and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were seven months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘Berries N' Burgundy’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘White             Dynasty’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,240.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Blaze’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             temperatures about 32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments             ovate to somewhat irregular in shape. Height: About 3.6 cm.             Diameter: About 4.5 cm to 7.1 cm. Segment height: About             2.2 cm. Segment diameter: About 2.2 cm to 3.2 cm. Axillary             buds, height: About 9 mm. Texture: Thick, starchy; somewhat             brittle. Color: Epidermis, freshly-harvested: Close to 159B             variably tinged with close to 179B to 179C; outer skin,             close to 199B. Epidermis, dried: Close to 200A. Cortical             tissue: Close to 2D. Axillary buds: Close to 27D. Root             description: Thick, fleshy contractile roots; color, close             to 155C to 155D. Rooting habit: Dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Short in height and somewhat mounded             plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate; potted plants in finished or saleable form in             about ten weeks after planting tubers; leaf petioles and             leaves arise from one or more growing points on tubers;             petioles mostly upright and outwardly arching with             development; inflorescences held above the foliar plane on             strong upright scapes.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 22 cm to 27 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 30.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown potted             plants.—About 38 cm.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shadehouse-grown potted plants,             tubers not de-eyed.—About one to three develop per #1 tuber.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shadehouse-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed.—About three to four develop per #1 tuber.         -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Length: About             2.8 cm to 7.1 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Wedge-shaped             or elongated elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Sheathing the             stem. Color, inner surface: Close to N155C, occasionally             tinged with close to 49D; colors and patterns on the outer             surface are visible on the inner surface. Color, outer             surface: Close to N170D tinged with close to 182D, streaked,             stippled and variably mottled with close to 200B; with             development, color becoming closer to 199C and close to 159C             stained with close to 187B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; fancy-type.         -   Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 16 cm to 24.8             cm.         -   Width, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 10 cm to 14.5             cm.         -   Blade aspect.—Mostly flat or somewhat cupped in the center.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Base.—Sagittate to peltate.         -   Margin.—Entire; flat to somewhat wavy with broad             undulations.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; rigid.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Dull sheen.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Glaucous, dull sheen.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Developing and fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Background color: Close to             darker than 147A flushed to deeply flushed with close to             183A to 183B. Margins: Close to 182A; at the edge, close to             183A. Basal notch: Close to 184B. Midvein and primary             venation: Close to 50B streaked and tinged with close to             182A and 185A. Areas surrounding venation: Suffused with             close to 191A, 191B, 183A, 183B and 184B. Developing and             fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Background color:             Close to 189A tinged with close to N189A. Margins: Close to             183A. Basal notch: Close to 184B. Midvein: Close to 155C             with variable flecks or streaks, close to 184B. Primary             venation: Close to 194B with variable flecks or streaks,             close to 184B. Lateral venation: Tinged with close to 187A.             Areas surrounding venation: Close to N155C with variable             flecks and tinged with close to 184B; towards the center of             the leaf and along the veins, faintly tinged with close to             187A.         -   Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight; with             development, somewhat outwardly arching. Length,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 17 cm to 23 cm.             Diameter, distally, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 4             mm to 6 mm. Diameter, proximally, shadehouse-grown potted             plants: About 8 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster:             Glaucous; proximally, somewhat glossy. Color,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: Close to N170D or 182D,             stippled, streaked and striped with close to 200B tinged             with close to 183B; below the leaf and petiole junction,             close to 49D or close to 49D tinged with close to 145D,             variably and faintly stippled, streaked and tessellated with             close to 200B tinged with close to 183D. Wing length,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 3.4 cm to 4.5 cm. Wing             diameter, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 8 mm.             Texture, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster,             inner and outer surfaces: Slightly glossy. Wing color,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: Inner surface: Close to             N155C variably tinged with close to 49D; occasionally             flecked and speckled with close to 183B; colors and patterns             on the outer surface are visible on the inner surface. Outer             surface: Close to 194D and 147C stippled, streaked and             variably mottled with close to 200B, and close to 200B             tinged with close to 183D. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences observed on ten week-old     shadehouse-grown potted plants.     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape;             spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones; female flowers develop on the             proximal one-third of the spadix; male flowers develop on             the distal two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop             at junction of female and male flower zones; near this             junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses             the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male             flowers.         -   Fragrance.—Night-fragrant; sweet, jasmine-like with camphor             note.         -   Natural flowering season and flower longevity.—Plants of the             new Caladium typically flower during the spring and summer             in central Florida; flowers develop about ten weeks after             growth commences; inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length, overall: About 10.8 cm. Length, distal open             portion: About 6.8 cm. Length, proximal closed portion:             About 4 cm. Width, distal open portion: About 3.8 cm. Depth,             distal open portion: About 1.8 cm. Width, at constriction:             About 1.3 cm. Width, proximal closed portion: About 2.1 cm.             Shape: Elliptic to slightly obovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base:             Obtuse. Margin: Entire; flat to slightly recurved. Texture,             front and rear surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, front             surface: Glaucous; dull sheen. Luster, rear surface:             Slightly glaucous, dull sheen. Color, front surface: Distal             open portion: Close to 155C tinged with close to 145D;             margins tinged with close to 145C; with development, color             becoming closer to 200B to 200C and 199A. Proximal closed             portion: Close to 138B to 138C mottled and flushed with             close to N186D and 187A; color does not change with             development. Color, rear surface: Distal open portion: Close             to 155C and 155D with some areas, close to 145C and 145D;             color does not change with development. Proximal closed             portion: Close to 145C and 145D variably streaked and             suffused with close to 194B, 194C and 146D; margin, tinged             with close to 54C and 182D; color does not change with             development.         -   Spadix.—Length, overall: About 7.6 cm. Length, male flower             zone: About 4.4 cm. Length, sterile zone: About 1.6 cm.             Length, female flower zone: About 1.6 cm. Diameter, male             flower zone: About 9 mm. Diameter, sterile flower zone:             About 7.5 mm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 9 mm.             Shape: Columnar, spindle-shaped. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.             Aspect: Upright. Color, mature, male zone: Close to 158D and             155D. Color, mature, sterile zone: Close to 155D. Color,             mature, female zone: Close to 11D. Male flowers: Quantity             per spadix: About 150. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3 mm.             Diameter: About 3 mm. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 4C. Female flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 60.             Shape: Ovate. Height: About 2.5 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Stigma color: Close to 11D. Ovary color: Close to 11D.         -   Scape.—Length: About 19.7 cm. Diameter: About 6.5 mm.             Strength: Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Slightly glaucous; dull sheen to             slightly glossy. Color: Close to 147D and 145D; proximally,             fainted tinged, streaked and stippled with close to 199A to             199B; distally, close to 147D tinged with close to 145C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Disease & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been     observed to have average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot and     Pythium Root Rot. Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed     to have resistance to pests and other pathogens common to Caladium     plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about     40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In cooler     zones, tubers can be “lifted” prior to first freeze and stored in a     cool dry environment overwinter for re-planting the following     spring. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘Berries N' Burgundy’ as illustrated and described. 